Shilu Forest Area

The Shilu Forest Area is located at the foot of the Alishan Range, on Tongtou Mountain in Zhongpu Township, Chiayi County. This "secret forest" of Chiayi County covers over 30 hectares and is a peri-urban natural ecological zone. Its elevation ranges from 300 to over 600 meters, and the entire area is characterized by lush subtropical broadleaf forests along Shilong Creek. The park boasts diverse and rich ecological resources. Common plants include various ground cover plants, ferns, calla lilies, tree ferns, empress trees, mahogany, camphor trees, and banyan trees. Protected bird species such as the Crested Serpent Eagle, Formosan Whistling Thrush, and Taiwan Barbet are also frequently spotted along the hiking trails. A major feature of the park is that its landmarks are indicated by stone carvings; for every five hundred meters ascended, a stone carving marks the elevation and provides information about the ecological distribution of that particular area. The forest is a subtropical broadleaf ecosystem with rich biodiversity. Its flora includes ground cover plants, ferns, tree ferns (e.g., Formosan tree fern), miscanthus grass, mahogany, camphor trees, banyan trees, azaleas, ixoras, and impatiens. The avian fauna includes various eagles and hawks, the Taiwan Blue Magpie, Grey Treepie, Japanese White-eye, Black-naped Monarch, Black-naped Oriole, Hair-crested Drongo, and Taiwan Barbet. The hiking trails, paved with logs, offer varied and natural forest scenery, with interpretive signs along the way to help visitors learn about nature. A walk along these trails promises continuous wonders, and those who observe carefully will surely gain much.